Leatherwood selected to join Leadership Ohio’s distinguished Class of 2026 fellows

Ohio University’s Chief of Staff Carly Leatherwood has been appointed to the esteemed Class of 2026 at Leadership Ohio, the state’s only nonpartisan leadership development program that brings together leaders from numerous disciplines across Ohio to promote positive change. 

Leatherwood joins the organization’s Class of 2026 alongside 34 other remarkable leaders – whose roles across the state span the private sector, health care, legal fields, scientific research, public administration, higher education and more – to help address Ohio’s most vital issues and collaborate on initiatives that bolster the state’s long-term success.

“I am deeply honored to join Leadership Ohio’s Class of 2026 alongside such an accomplished and far-ranging group of leaders from across our state,” Leatherwood said. “Ohio is at its strongest when we bring people together across sectors and perspectives to tackle complex challenges, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from my fellow cohort members while contributing my own experiences in higher education and public service."

Leatherwood, who has served as Chief of Staff to OHIO’s 23rd President, Dr. Lori Stewart Gonzalez, since July 2023, has more than 25 years of communications and marketing experience and possesses a strong background in public service.  

Before becoming OHIO’s full-time chief of staff, Leatherwood had served as interim chief of staff to Ohio University’s 22nd President, Dr. Hugh Sherman, since August 2022. She had also previously served as the associate vice president of communications in University Communications and Marketing (UCM). 

Leatherwood originally joined OHIO in 2016 and was named one of the University’s outstanding administrators in 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and a Master of Business Administration from OHIO’s College of Business.

Shaping solutions for Ohio’s most pressing challenges

Over the next year, Leadership Ohio’s Class of 2026 will participate in monthly sessions across Ohio with policymakers, industry leaders and community organizations, focusing on several high-visibility topics, including: workforce retention, national security, the judicial system and childcare accessibility. The ultimate goal of this prestigious fellowship is to cultivate a network of leaders capable of driving the state of Ohio forward. 

“This cohort represents some of the most dedicated and talented professionals in our state,” said Kevin Smith, the newly appointed CEO of Leadership Ohio. “As the need for effective leadership continues to grow, we are honored to welcome this cohort of talented, geographically and professionally diverse leaders into our fellowship program, each of them to be united by a commitment to community improvement.”

Additional details about Leadership Ohio are available online at www.leadershipohio.org. Nominations for the Class of 2027 will open in Fall 2026.